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A tree that has travelled across the Arabian ocean from India as a small sapling.

A tree that has grown in a desert and lived more than 150 years.

A tree which is remembered until now by the older generation of a country.

A tree that has given shade to generations before its fall.

A tree that has inspired a statue in its honor .

It was a Banyan tree at Rolla Square, Sharjah. And Banyan is called Rolla locally.

In fact, a search for the meaning of Rolla has landed me to some information given here (you come across this word quite often in U.A.E as a street or square).

Rolla square in Sharjah is a famous locality where a unique memorial of a Rolla tree is built to honor the first Rolla/Banyan tree travelled from India to Uae in 1800’s and grown and served its purpose here in Sharjah until 1978 till its fall. The place it stood for years was called by its name and slowly became the heart of a desert city which spread to larger size over years. Now Rolla square is the first thing to be mentioned when you talk about Sharjah. And that all started from a tree! Of course a tree is the greatest asset to a desert and that could be the reason a lone tree was admired this much and grown into a legend, and even inspired a statue in its memory.

See how a 65 year old local man gives its account, to the Daily “National”;

Ali al Shamsi, 65, stood recently before the statue of a tree – an unusual sight anywhere in the world, let alone the Arabian Peninsula, as he tried to explain how it came to be there.

He grew up in the Rolla neighborhood, long before it transformed into Al Ghuwair market area. There used to be a single school, a few traditional homes, a store or two and a continuous flow of nomads and caravans who sought shelter from the beating sun.

“It was a common sight to see travelling families stopping by here to rest under the Rolla tree,” he said.

Every day after school, Mr. al Shamsi and his classmates would meet at the “special spot” before they headed home. “The tree was huge,” he said. “There were swings on its branches, which we all fought over, and we would climb it and have fun, and see the world from its top.

“All of us, including the animals, like cats and camels, would sit under it and enjoy its shade.”

(Courtesy: “The National”)

From these words, it is evident what this tree meant for them. A magic tree in the middle of a desert. And us, who cuts down many a tree all over this world on everyday basis, should look back to the legend of this tree and its memory lingering here at Rolla Square, to understand how dependant are we to nature and how we kills it.

Mangoes and jackfruits are ripe from last two months and it is end of season now. My memories of mangoes are the neatly stacked ones I am finding in the supermarkets here. But from last year, it seems less supplied here; don’t know the reason may be poor harvest in India and Pakistan. The cheaper mangoes come from Pakistan which is sweeter than the varieties come from India. But Indian mangoes have a large variety to choose from comparing to fewer from Pakistan. Jackfruit mainly comes from Kerala, but not at all of quality. Eating it just for the sake of eating. A small piece of jackfruit costs you Dh.10 onwards which in fact is not worth when you get poor quality of it. Mangoes and jackfruits are very costly here but back home we can get it free from our trees!!!

I like mangoes and jackfruit very much. May be because of getting it less here as my father puts it. Back home, we have few trees of both in our property but I am here whining. My summer vacation starts in July and I will be at Tirur or Kuttippuram in July and August. But by that time the season will be over for both except a few late comers on those trees.Mangoes are OK but the jackfruit absorbs monsoon and will be of no taste. I can only blame my summer vacation for this. But my father disagrees and his logic goes like this:-

In India, the summer vacation is in April and May. Mangoes and jackfruits are ripe by that time so the children enjoy it.

In UAE, the summer vacation is in July and August. Dates are ripe by that time so the children enjoy it.

So what matters is the place where we are.

Be at the right place at the right time, he says. (Ah, is it possible?)

Nature has placed certain fruits in plenty at places and other fruits will be cherished there as it goes for mangoes in UAE and dates in India, he adds.